I heard from a few folks regarding the fact that there wasn’t a post from me on Saturday. Which is nice because y’all know I always post, every day…unless I say I’m not going to. It’s really great to be missed!
But I was planning on posting on Saturday (I’d already loaded the blog post for yesterday, but Saturday’s I was planning to upload on Friday evening.) Our family went to the mountains, though, for the weekend. It was gorgeous up there at the cabin—but it wasn’t on WiFi. And we had to have actual directions from the owner of the house because the location wasn’t on GPS.
Yes, I started having heebie-jeebies because I’m apparently an internet addict. My smart phone had an intermittent connection, but not for very long.
I was a big girl and dealt with it. I ended up playing lots of ping pong and air hockey (poorly) with my husband and kids, sitting by a roaring fire, watching the night sky with a telescope, and hiking. We had a really fun, unplugged time.
It’s funny, though, how easy it is to forget that you’re not wired. We were heading to South Mountain State Park with our corgi and I said, “Hey, let me check real quick and make sure dogs are allowed.” Of course, I went right to my computer—which wasn’t online.
Back at home last night for trick or treating, my husband and I were watching the zombie movie Dawn of the Dead. There’s a moment where they’re at the mall and the cop in the movie communicates with another non-zombie on the roof…with white boards.
It bothered me. Wouldn’t you maybe exchange cell phone numbers on the white board and then call or text each other? I know the cell phones go dead after a while, but still. Where were all the cell phones?
It bothered me enough to look up when the movie came out—2004 was the release date. We were definitely all texting and cell phone addicted six years ago. I could see a movie set in the 90s not using cells…but the lack of mobiles in the film really bugged me.
I do use technology to a certain degree in my books, but I’ve been very reluctant to do it. I felt like social media was still possibly on the trendy side when Pretty is as Pretty Dies came out, but it’s going to be mentioned in Finger Lickin’ Dead—briefly. Facebook has a slightly more significant role in Memphis book 3 since I’ve decided that Facebook seems like a pretty solid format.
I’ve always been really conscious about dating my books. That’s because they’re at libraries and I don’t want someone to pick them up in a few years and roll their eyes over the reference to something that no longer exists (VCRs, etc.) that will date the book.
But now I’m starting to get concerned the other way, too. Won’t it date my books more if technology is ignored completely? Hasn’t it become such an integral part of our lives that it needs a mention—even in a vague way? So maybe I won’t refer to an iphone (the trendiness factor), but I’ll definitely refer to a cell phone (generic mention).
If I can go to the top of a mountain and assume, without even thinking about it, that I can get state park information on my laptop or smart phone…then technology has really integrated into everything I do.
I’m going to try to reach a balance where the technology in my books is also integrated—where it doesn’t stand out for being outdated and where it doesn’t stand out in its absence.
How do you approach technological references in your books?
And please join me tomorrow when Stephen Tremp will be joining me with a post on “Food, Wine, and Drink.” Hope you’ll pop by. :)
I write YA and MG urban fantasy, so many of my characters can’t use technology (due to age or allergy issues).
When I do use it, I like to keep it generic. “Look it up” rather than specify “I opened my iphone and Googled the information”.
That is a really difficult one, isn’t it? Not enough technology, and you look weird, but too much current technology and you run the risk of the book getting dated.
Technology can be tricky in writing. But I feel if you don’t use it then people will notice.
I LOVE technology which also makes me crazy.
Elizabeth – Technology has become such an integral part of our lives that unless one’s writing historical fiction, it’s important to integrate it. On the other hand,as you say, using too much or too specialized technology means you run the risk of your book getting dated too quickly. In my writing, I integrate technology, but just in general ways: ‘cell ‘phones, the Internet and so on. I do have some of my characters having Skype conversations in my WIP, but I don’t use anything too specialized.
Oh, and I loved the way you used cell phones in Pretty is as Pretty Dies Clever!
When I wrote draft 1 of my first book, cell phones were huge and clunky, and more of a luxury item. By the time it was ready for publication, times had changed, but my heroine was stuck in a very tight money crunch and didn’t have one (just having a cordless phone was a ‘new’ technological advance.)
And because several of my books are with digital publishers, they never really go ‘out of print’ so they can be dated.
Same can be said for references to any pop culture – movies, celebrities, tv shows, etc. I try to avoid any showing of how they’re used, but I can’t really ignore some technology when my characters (cops, covert ops specialists, etc.) would obviously need them.
Terry
Terry’s Place
Romance with a Twist–of Mystery
My most recent book, St. Martin’s Moon, is a futuristic paranormal set some centuries from now on a lunar colony. One of the inside jokes is whenever the hero interacts with the tech on the base and notes how old and out-of-date it all is. The cell phone gives way to the implant, motion sensors turn the lights on when you enter a room, showers circle you as you stand still, etc. To some extent these are modeled on other scifi novels I’ve read. Fortunately for my prognosticatorial reputation I don’t write books set in the near future. For all I know we could go through a ‘withdrawal from tech’ phase, as the economy declines and expensive toys are unaffordable. Or some such.
Marc Vun Kannon
http://authorguy.wordpress.com
Last year I decided to dust off an old manuscript and see if it deserved a second life. I was almost startled when a character ran to a pay phone to make an emegency call. I didn’t realize I’d written it that many years ago. But it was a pretty generic, “undated” reference when I wrote it. How things do change.
I’m lucky that my books are based on another world and race far away, so our technological changes don’t affect what happens there. Since technology changes so fast now, I can see why it’s a challenge for those writing books based on real life. How long before including a character reading a physical book will seem dated?
I’m facing this dilemma right now. Usually, it’s not an issue since my plots take place 70 years ago, but my NaNo project takes place in the present. I’m flummoxed since technology seems to change day to day, let along year to year. Any hints would be appreciated!
Sounds like a beautiful area and a wonderful weekend.
I had dated not only my book but myself as well with some of my references to technology that were already passé. Fortunately, early readers and editors pointed them out to me. I try to be more careful now.
I struggle with this in my series. They have computers and cell phones and all that, ut I tried to stay away from any defining technology. I’m sure they’ll sound really dated in ten years, though.
Glad you had such a beautiful weekend.
I try not to use things that offer a specific time unless it’s relevant to the — a crime committed in the past that is part of the present crime/investigation sort of thing.
It is such a good point.
I included cell phones fairly late, but that is because I am the kind of person who *doesn´t* use it all the time. I really want to be left in peace now and then, and not necessarily only in the bathroom.
But of course I wouldn´t send my constables or sleuths into the lion´s den without a cell phone nowadays. In remote areas, old cellars or buckets of water they may be useless, though. Hehehe.
I don’t use much technology references in my so-called novel. My protagonist works with wave theory, which is basically the same now as 1000 years ago. Basic science lasts forever, technology doesn’t >:)
Cold As Heaven
I’ve wondered the same thing. One of my characters has a blackberry, which is already a bit dated. I’m trying to think of it as being more a way of taking a snapshot of the time period.
– Anju
Suzi–I think your generic references are smart!
Rayna–It’s a tough balance, for sure.
Author Guy–It’s really unpredictable, isn’t it? And that’s the trouble. You’re right–we could think we’re including cutting edge technology, and then it looks laughably outdated in the near future.
Linda–You know, I ran into a reference like that a few months ago with a book I was reading! I don’t think my kids even know what a pay phone is…and they’re so scarce these days.
Alex–You’re lucky! And…yes, it makes me sad, but I think talking about reading physical books is really going to date our books, too.
Teresa–Exactly–if we leave it out of our books altogether, it stands out with its omission!
Margot–I think keeping it general is a great idea.
Thanks! That was pushing the envelope a little for me, but I hoped I wasn’t taking the reference too far.
Terry–Good point about pop culture! Yes, I ran into a book recently where the kid had a poster on his wall–and it was like some teen idol from the 80s. It made me wince. :)
Jane–It was really nice up there. :) And first readers are great to catch stuff like that, aren’t they?
Diane–I keep telling myself that the *books* will look rough then, too! So I guess the readers won’t be expecting brand-new technology references if my book has been out for a long time. I just don’t want it to be too much of a turnoff.
Mary–Good point. We’re just asking to date ourselves, otherwise. I took out a reference to “film” the other day in my WIP.
Elspeth–I think I’d definitely keep it vague. REAL vague! I think it’s safe to say “computer” and “cell phone” but it’s the applications that are tough. I’m feeling pretty safe about using Facebook now, when I wasn’t before. My folks check things “online,” but never specify a program or a browser name…ugh. Except I might have mentioned “Word” before, but then that’s been around forever.
Dorte–I think we can make really bad things happen to their cell phones if we want to strand them. Aren’t we evil? We could have the phones fall in a puddle, get dropped on cement, or have a worthless battery. Then we’ve included the technology but can put them in a terrible fix still!
Cold As Heaven–I like that you said that basic Science lasts forever! At least some things don’t change. It sounds like scientists might disagree over some modern scientific theory, though?
I assume it’s the archaeologist in me, but I’m not too worried about appearing dated as a writer. For me, part of the interest in reading something older (like an early James Bond book that I recently finished) is seeing the change in technology, the material culture, and also the cultural values of a different era. One of my favorite science fiction novels remains The Demolished Man (1953), despite the clunky space travel.
That’s the way science works, Elizabeth. New theories are proposed and disputed. The theories are challenged in experimental and logical tests, over and over again. The theories that pass all the tests survive and become “truth”. That’s the difference between real science and obscure speculations founded in quasi-science, like Creationsim >:)
Cold As Heaven
Technology can also play a role in a not so good way, too. My iPhone is, of course, with AT&T. Their service sucks. None in Las Vegas. None in the part of Minnesota where my sister lives. That could become a problem for a protagonist, even when they’re not atop a mountain.
M. Terry Green–I enjoy reading Golden Age mysteries–but not so much the mysteries from the 1980s. Maybe because I was in high school then and it just brings back a mess of feelings…and fiction is an escape? I wonder if it’s better to go FAR back when writing retro (okay, I’m going off on a tangent here!). And I wonder what the tolerance for “dated” is with readers…maybe others are more interested in nostalgia?
Cold As Heaven–This is exactly why I wish I were smarter than I am! I’ve always been fascinated by science…but my ability to grasp the concepts is so limited. I love the idea that it’s in flux and debated, though.
Helen–Those cell phone towers! Yes, technology isn’t on our side sometimes. Verizon works in our area…most of the time. When it doesn’t, it’s a bad, bad thing!
I live for the moments I have an excuse to go unplugged. I find as long as I have a real book in my purse, I get along just fine.
Elizabeth–That’s an interesting question (to which I have no clue about an answer). But I do have the feeling that the more retro, the better. Even so, I marvel at the young people who I know who’ve never known a world without cell phones, let alone a TV without a remote. Technology is changing at breakneck speed, especially for the next generation. I wonder if that will make them more accepting as readers when they come across older technology?
The technology is becoming higher and higher it is very difficult to handle.